*Start a list of success stories (good moments when you had an impact on a teen's life) so you can easily share them when you have the opportunity. (And be sure to update it as you have more successes!)

*Start a list of success stories (good moments when you had an impact on a teen's life) so you can easily share them when you have the opportunity. (And be sure to update it as you have more successes!)

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*Find out who the appropriate contact at your local newspaper is for sending information about upcoming events, library news, etc. and then get in touch to introduce yourself.

==Overall Management/Organization==

==Overall Management/Organization==

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*Invite a local youth group, such as the Girl Scouts, to hold one of their meetings in the library

*Invite a local youth group, such as the Girl Scouts, to hold one of their meetings in the library

*Make a list of other youth serving organizations in your area and resolve to contact each one to see how you might work together for mutual benefit

*Make a list of other youth serving organizations in your area and resolve to contact each one to see how you might work together for mutual benefit

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*Find out who provides afterschool programs and services in your community or state and let them know about what services the library has to offer them. The [http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/State_Level_YA_Services_Contacts National Afterschool Association] is a good start. Once you know who it is, send them a copy of [http://www.ala.org/yalsa/files/professionaltools/Handouts/afterschool_bw.pdf Libraries: Your Afterschool Partner] (.pdf)

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*Find out if there's a culinary school in your area and get in touch with them to see if they have any interest in working with the library. For example, they could make food for a fundraising event, they could send someone to do a cooking demo for teens, or they could send someone to talk about careers in the culinary field.

==Services==

==Services==

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*Put out a call for volunteers to provide homework help after school, perhaps via your local Rotary Club or Junior League

*Put out a call for volunteers to provide homework help after school, perhaps via your local Rotary Club or Junior League

*Find out who provides afterschool programs and services in your community or state and let them know about what services the library has to offer them. The [http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/State_Level_YA_Services_Contacts National Afterschool Association] is a good start. Once you know who it is, send them a copy of [http://www.ala.org/yalsa/files/professionaltools/Handouts/afterschool_bw.pdf Libraries: Your Afterschool Partner] (.pdf)

==Spaces==

==Spaces==

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*Pretend you're a new library patron. Walk through the teen space & see if you can find everything easily. If not, create signs that point people in the right direction

*Pretend you're a new library patron. Walk through the teen space & see if you can find everything easily. If not, create signs that point people in the right direction

*Start a wish list of things that would improve your teen space, making a note of specific products/models as well as stores and companies that sell what you need. If/when funding becomes available, you'll be ready to make purchases right away.

==Youth Development & Participation==

==Youth Development & Participation==

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*Make a “suggestions” box and place it in the teen area. Check it regularly for easy things to implement that would make teen patrons happy

*Make a “suggestions” box and place it in the teen area. Check it regularly for easy things to implement that would make teen patrons happy

*Encourage your teens to take the weekly readers' poll on [http://yalsa.ala.org/thehub The Hub] (blog about YA literature)

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*Scan this free [http://www.issuelab.org/resource/creative_ways_to_solicit_youth_input_a_hands-on_guide_for_youth_practitioners toolkit] (.pdf)from Public Profit for ideas on how to seek out and obtain teen input and feedback.

Revision as of 10:18, 9 December 2013

Many folks serving teens in libraries do so only on a part time basis, making delivering good teen services a challenge. Help out your colleagues by adding to this page quick and easy things that busy library workers and librarians can do to serve teens:

Start a list of success stories (good moments when you had an impact on a teen's life) so you can easily share them when you have the opportunity. (And be sure to update it as you have more successes!)

Find out who the appropriate contact at your local newspaper is for sending information about upcoming events, library news, etc. and then get in touch to introduce yourself.

Overall Management/Organization

Create an "Ideas for Next Year" folder and add information about possible programs, events, activities, etc. as you think of them

Read the 10 page Public Library Evaluation Tool for teen services to familiarize yourself with the basics of an overall program for serving teens through libraries

Read the mission and/or strategic plan for your library and identify ways that your overall teen program supports it

Find out if there's a culinary school in your area and get in touch with them to see if they have any interest in working with the library. For example, they could make food for a fundraising event, they could send someone to do a cooking demo for teens, or they could send someone to talk about careers in the culinary field.

Services

Make a "how may may I help you?" button and wear it

Create a tip sheet on how to access databases remotely for school work

Put out a call for volunteers to provide homework help after school, perhaps via your local Rotary Club or Junior League

Start a wish list of things that would improve your teen space, making a note of specific products/models as well as stores and companies that sell what you need. If/when funding becomes available, you'll be ready to make purchases right away.

Youth Development & Participation

Be a good role model for teens by talking about what you’re currently reading

Make time to listen to a teen who is having a bad day and wants to vent

Make a “suggestions” box and place it in the teen area. Check it regularly for easy things to implement that would make teen patrons happy